Maple Leafs land top pick in 2026 NHL Draft Lottery; Capitals stay at 16

The Toronto Maple Leafs won the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery, moving from No. 5 to No. 1, while the San Jose Sharks jumped to No. 2 and the Vancouver Canucks dropped to No. 3. Washington Capitals remained at 16th, with their second first‑round pick from Anaheim potentially landing as high as 18th or as low as 29th depending on the Ducks–Golden Knights playoff outcome. The draft order for the first 16 picks is set for Buffalo on June 26‑27, with top prospects Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg leading the class; Leafs GM John Chayka called the result an elated, meaningful opportunity. The event marks another decentralized draft, with teams selecting from their home bases.